232 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



with the seeming intention of visiting them. They were, however, not waited for, and were 

 soon left behind, much puzzled, doubtless, by the rajiid progress of the steamers against the 

 wind. The boats appeared to be fully manned, but did not seem to be armed, although each 

 of them bore a large banner with certain characters inscribed on it, which led to the conjecture 

 that they were government vessels of some kind. The coasting vessels increased in numbers 

 within the bay, and wei-e sometimes so near that their construction and rig could be plainly 

 made out. Their hulls rose forward in a high beaked prow, and aft, in a lofty ])oop, while a 

 single mast, secured by fore and back stays, rose from the centre of the vessel and was rigged 

 with a large square sail made of canvas ; there were three other smaller sails, two at the bow 

 and one at the stern. 



On passing Cape Sagami, at the entrance of the bay, the shores were observed to rise in 

 precipitous cliffs, which connected landward with undulating hills. Deep ravines, green with 

 rich verdure, divided the steep slopes and opened into small expanses of alluvial land, washed 

 by the waters of the bay into the form of inlets, about the borders of which were grouped various 

 Japanese villages. The uplands were beautifully varied with cultivated fields and tufted woods, 

 while far behind rose the mountains, height upon height, in the inland distance. The entrance 

 to the bay seemed well fortified, and the hills and projecting headlands of Sagami were 

 formidable with forts, the guns of which, however, wore silent, notwithstanding the threatening 

 entrance of the strange ships. The distant shores of the province of Awa, on the east, rising 

 opposite to Sagami in a lofty peak, and stretching beyond in picturesque summits, was still 

 more mountainous and bore fewer marks of cultivation and a less formidable appearance, being 

 apparently destitute of fortifications. As the squadron passed through the straits into the inner 

 bay of Uraga the numerous fishing boats hurried out of the way, and their crews, when they 

 fancied themselves at a sufiiciently safe distance, rested upon their oars and gazed with an 

 anxious look at the strangers. 



At about five o'clock in the afternoon the squadron came to anchor off the city of Uraga, on 

 the western side of the bay of Yedo, the sloops-of-war (the wind being favorable) having been 

 cast loose a little while previous, and the four vessels took up their positions, as had been 

 directed, opposite the shore. Just before letting go the anchors the weather cleared up, and 

 the lofty cone of Fusi was more distinctly visible, showing high above the accompan)'ing range 

 of mountains which extend inland. It was estimated to be eight or ten thousand feet in height, 

 and its position W. ^ N. from Uraga, at a distance of fifty or sixty miles. As the ships proceeded 

 to their anchorage the lead was kept going every moment, and as a constant depth of twenty- 

 five fathoms was found the vessels kept on their headway, rounding, at moderate speed, the 

 elevation or cliff, within which is situated the bight of Uraga. They continued sounding and 

 moving on slowly and cautiously until the squadron had nearly reached within a mile and a 

 half of the promontory guarding the inner entrance of the bay of Yedo, at a distance of a mile 

 further than any foreign vessel had ever advanced, when two guns were fired from a neigh- 

 boring fort, and a ball of smoke in the air showed that a rocket had been discharged. Tlie 

 order was at once given to let go the anchor ; but as the depth of twenty-five fathoms was still 

 found, the steamers first closed in a littlemore with the shore and then anchored. 



Previous to anchoring, a number of Japanese guard-boats had been observed coming off from 

 the land in pursuit, but the Commodore had given express orders, both by word and signal, 

 forbidding the admission of any one on board either of the ships 1 ut his own; and even as to 



